Cooling system for internal combustion engines



A. W. DOYLE Nov. 29, 1955 COOLING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Sept. 19, 1952 INVENTOR ANDREW W. DOYLE ATTORNEYS United States Patent COOLING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Andrew W. Doyle, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application September 19, 1952, Serial No. 310,433

2 Claims. (Cl. 12341.19)

This invention appertains to internal combustion engines and more particularly to a cooling system for the same.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide a means for cooling internal combustion engines without the necessity of providing the usual fan or forced air cooling.

Another object of my invention is to provide an internal combustion engine having a crank case forming the usual oil reservoir and a separate sealed jacket above the crank case and about the cylinders through which oil may be circulated. v

A further object of my invention is to provide an internal combustion engine wherein the oil is circulated in a sealed jacket about the cylinders and in which means are provided for cooling the circulating oil.

A more specific object of my invention is to circulate a refrigerant in suitable pipes and coils through the oil in the crank case and through the oil in the sealed jacket, said refrigerant being circulated in coils about the cylinders.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a simple, practical and reliable construction that is economical to manufacture, easy to assemble and positive in its operation.

With the above and other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

One preferred and practical embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which the refrigeration system is diagrammatically shown in association with an internal combustion engine of the type extending transversely of the vehicle, certain parts of the internal combustion engine being broken away and in section to further illustrate certain details of construction.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the letter B generally indicates one type of my improved internal combustion engine and the letter R generally indicates one type of refrigeration system. In accordance with my present invention, I may utilize any type of internal combustion engine and any type of refrigeration system. However, for purposes of illustration, I have shown an improved internal combustion engine E of the type which extends transversely of the vehicle between the wheels W and therefore, readily accommodates itself to either front or rear drives. The engine includes any preferred number of cylinders which communicate with a relatively large crank case 11. Reciprocatively mounted in the cylinders 10 are the pistons 12 which are, in turn, connected to the usual crank shaft 13 by means of the rods 14. The head of each cylinder is provided with a spark plug 15 and the usual fuel inlets and outlets (not shown). The exhaust fumes or products of combustion are conducted from the cylinders 10 by means of the exhaust manifold 16, a portion of which extends through 2,725,044 Patented Nov. 29, 1955 the generator 17 of the refrigeration system R, as shown. The outer end 18 of the exhaust manifold 16 communicates with the usual mufiier, etc. I also provide a butterfly valve 19 in the exhaust manifold 16. Communicating at a point 20 forward and adjacent of the valve 19, is an exhaust by-pass pipe 21, and it is obvious that when the valve 19 is closed, the exhaust gases will flow from the exhaust manifold 16 through the opening 20 into the exhaust by-pass 21 and to the outer end 18 of the exhaust manifold 16 by means of the opening 22. In this manner the exhaust gases completely by-pass the portion of the exhaust manifold 16 which is associated with the generator of the refrigeration system. It should also be noted that a portion of the exhaust manifold 16 in the generator 17 is provided with upper and lower sets of baffles 23 which act to further absorb the heat from the exhaust gases so that the refrigerant in the generator may be readily vaporized.

Each end of the crank shaft 13 is in drive connection with a respective fluid clutch 24 through which the Wheel axles 25 are driven.

Located above the crank case 11 and completely separate therefrom, is the sealed jacket 25' and it is to be noted that the jacket 25 extends downwardly and around the cylinders 10. Oil from the crank case 11 is drawn through a pipe 26 into a pump 28 where it is forced through an outlet pipe 26' into the sealed jacket 25. The pump 28 is driven by the crank shaft 13 through gears 28'. The oil circulates in the jacket 25' and overflows into an outlet drain 27 where it is returned to the crank case 11. The crank shaft, bearings, pins, piston rods, cylinder walls, etc. are all lubricated by the oil in the crank case in the usual manner and the internal combustion engine E is, of course, provided with the usual housing H and cover plates 29, 30, and 31 which plates may be readily removed to provide access to the various parts of the engine.

Thus far it can be seen that the oil is thoroughly circulated from the crank case 11 about the cylinders 10 in the sealed jacket 25' and thence returned to the crank case. When the engine is first started or running slowly, idling, etc., this circulation is sufficient to keep the cylinders cool. However, at high speeds, it is necessary to provide a further means for cooling the circulating oil and this is accomplished by circulating a refrigerant through coils and pipes located in the crank case 11 and jacket 25.

In accordance with my present invention, I prefer that the refrigerant enter through the pipe 32 at the bottom of the engine and be drawn oif from the top of the engine through the pipe 33. The inlet pipe 32 extends into one of the fluid clutch housings, thence under the engine and into the other fluid clutch housing at the opposite end. From there the pipe 32 enters the crank case 11 and through a number of coils cools the oil therein.

The refrigerant is then conducted through pipe 34 from the crank case 11 into the coils 35 located in the sealed jacket 25'. It is to be noted that the coils 35 extend downwardly and around each cylinder so that the oil is cooled Where the greatest heat, resulting from the products of combustion, is found. The refrigerant is then conducted from the coils 35 back into the refrigeration system R by pipe 33.

As previously stated, the refrigeration system may be of any type and forms no particular part of my invention other than the fact that the heat from the exhaust gases of the engine are utilized as a source of heat for the generator 17 of the system. Therefore, one type of system may be of the absorption machine type and as shown, the same includes a pump P which draws the strong liquor from the absorber and the semi-vaporized refrigerant from the top of the engine through pipe 33 and forces the same through pipe 36 into the generator 17. The generator,

of course, vaporizes the liquid and conducts the same into the vapor and liquid separator where the weak liquid or liquor is returned to the absorber by means of the pipe 37. In speaking or"strong liquor and weak liquorit is to be noted that the weak liquor is the hot semi-vaporized liquid, while the strong liquor is the cooler portion of the refrigerant. It should be further pointed out that the absorber shown in the drawings is an additional heat transfer device and operates somewhat 011 the order of a secondary condenser. The vapor, however, proceeds upward into the condenser and the condensed liquid refrigerant is returned to the engine through pipe 38 which communicates with the inlet 32 as shown. The inlet 32 is provided with an expansion valve 39 preferably in close proximity to the engine E as shown.

From the above, it is apparent that not only is my internal combustion engine cooled by the circulation of oil but the oil is likewise cooled by a circulating refrigerant in direct contact therewith. In starting my engine or running it at low speeds, it is obviously not necessary to utilize my refrigeration system and therefore, the valve 19 is closed and the exhaust by-passes the system by means of the pipe 21. However, when the engine becomes heated and is in danger of over heating, valve 19 is opened, the pump P is started, and the hot exhaust gases will immediately start to vaporize the refrigerant in the generator 17.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and it will, of course, be understood that changes in the form proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cooling system for internal combustion engines of the type having an oil filled crank case and a separate sealed jacket above the crank case and about the cylinders, comprising a pump in said engine adjacent the crank case having an inlet communicating With the crank case and an outlet communicating with the sealed jacket, a drain outlet for said sealed jacket communicating with said crank case, means for driving the pump, and a refrigeration system having a refrigerant inlet pipe extending into said crank case through said sealed jacket and connecting with an outlet leading back into the refrigeration system.

2. A cooling system for internal combustion engines of the type having a plurality of cylinders, an oil filled crank case, a separate sealed jacket above the crank case and about the cylinders, means for circulating oil be tween the crank case and the sealed jacket and exhaust pipe means for said cylinders, comprising a refrigeration system having a generator formed about said exhaust pipe for utilizing the exhaust heat, said system including a refrigerant inlet pipe extending into said crank case, an intermediate length of pipe connecting with said inlet pipe in said crank case formed in the shape of a coil and extending through said sealed jacket in coils about the cylinders, and an outlet pipe connected to said intermediate length of pipe leading back into the refrigeration system.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

